The Natural History Museum calls for Expressions of Interest in Civic Realm Competition. In 2012, the museum created a Masterplan Development Framework, intended to serve as a charter to guide and underpin development at the NHM for the next 25 years. A key project for early delivery is a revived grounds – the re-ordering of the extensive gardens and access-ways in order to improve the visitor experience, enhance the setting of the Grade I listed building and reconcile the overlapping uses of the space.

Expectations

The Museum encourages responses from multi-disciplinary teams from a wide range of fields, such as landscape design, architecture and engineering to craftspeople, ecology, the arts, interpretation, learning, barrier-free design and gardening.

Themes

The project’s key themes encompass: a skillful balance of respect for the heritage values of the building and setting; exemplary, original and sustainable design, which satisfies the expectations of world visitors and the importance of the institution; safe, secure and inclusive design outcomes; and the needs of the Museum community of visitors, staff and neighbours.

Two Stages

The first stage is a wide call for Expressions of Interest, concluding with the selection of shortlist of no less than five teams. At the second stage, these teams will be invited to develop a design approach. The Competition will conclude with the selection of a single winning team and design approach by a jury. A public exhibition of the shortlisted teams will be held prior to the jury meeting.